Severe cramps (legs)
 

hi guys, I am hoping you will be able to help with this.

I am getting terrible cramps in my legs - not so much in the big muscles, but in smaller muscles (I think anyway) just above my ankle on the side of my leg. I also have some other areas that are cramping up.

The thing that makes this so miserable is that standing up does not fix the cramp. I am waking in the middle of the night with an intense cramp that doesn't respond to anything much (walking around, massage etc). To be honest I just mutter and swear until it goes away. Once it has gone, it just retriggers and is all on again unless I manage to keep my feet in a 'normal' position which is pretty much impossible. I have club feet from my sensory motor neuropathy.

I have started magnesium supplements, and already take calcium, plus I will ask my OT at my appointment next week if there is anything soft I could use to position my feet at night. I wear foot drop slints during the day, but they are hard plastic and come up to my knees - not very comfortable for sleeping.

I am unable to take baclofen etc, as even half a tablet makes me very sedated for days.

Any suggestions gratefully received - I am going away tomorrow for a couple of days on a work trip, but I will check back when I get home. Thanks guys

raglet

How about Potassium Choride supplements? A lack of Potassium can also cause muscles to cramp. Try a couple bananas a day and especially one before bed.

What kind of magnesium are you taking? If it is magnesium oxide you are not getting any appreciably absorbed.

You could try soaking in epsom salts before bed. This really helps with foot cramps. I sometimes get one that affects only 2 toes, and it really hurts like the devil.

Also back in the day before I learned about the joys of magnesium...heheheheh.... I used to keep a heating pad by the bed and throw it on my lower legs. When I worked midnights, I used to get the most awful cramps in my legs...This helped more than trying to walk them out.

Raglet,
Hyland's makes a homepathic pill that contains Quinine they help me a little bit at various times.

Hi
My cardio suggested a small glass of tonic water, it contains quinnine. About 4-6 ounces. It tastes pretty nasty plain, I'd prefer to have a little gin in it, but can't drink any more LOL

The tablets are magnesium phosphate 100mg, and have 25 mg potassium phosphate. I am taking 4 a day, so that is 400/100mg. I seem to be doing better. I am not sure what dose I should be taking though, I am just following the bottles direction.

I am not sure that I should take quinine though (other than with gin!) as I am on 400mg of hydroxychloroquine already for my lupus. As the side effects can be pretty grave (damage to vision) I wouldn't like to increase my intake of quinine without talking to my rheumie.

Thanks guys, you are always so helpful.

raglet

The major effects of quinine that are undesired involve heart function. There are other toxicities that are rarer involving the eyes and skin.

There is really very little quinine in tonic water today in US.

http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/2009/...w-safe-is-ton/

Compare 20mg /8oz serving to 260mg RX dose for leg cramps.
Malaria doses are even higher.

Thanks Mrs D - sounds like hydroxychloroquine is somewhat different from quinine in it's side effect profile - I have to have a 6 monthly eye screen looking for macular degeneration while taking hydroxycholorquine. It's a total pain in the whatsit really, but seeing macular degeneration is irreversable they need to catch the damage while it is still at a subclinical level. Rates of eye problems increase after 10 years - I have been on it for about 15 years and all good so far.

cheers
raglet